The Gospel of Mark #15 – “Unbelief”
Mark 6:1-29
Intro –
1. Can anyone guess what my favorite animal is? The Platypus!
2. ILL – Josh McDowell writes, “People refuse to believe that which they don't want to believe, in spite of evidence. When explorers first went to Australia they found a mammal which laid eggs; spent some time in water, some on land; had a broad, flat tail, webbed feet, and a bill similar to a duck. Upon their return to England, they told the populace of this, and all felt it was a hoax. They returned to Australia and found a pelt from this animal and took it back to England, but the people still felt it was a hoax. In spite of the evidence, they disbelieved because they didn't want to believe.”
3. Someone wrote, “The Platypus, God’s ultimate practical joke!”
4. However, what we are going to talk about this week is no joke at all! It is the sad & tragic sin of unbelief.
5. Charles Darwin, “belief is the most complete of all distinctions between man & the lower animals.”
6. Mark 6:1-13 (read) **We will talk about vs. 14-29 also.
7. One of the central themes in this section of Mark's Gospel is the unbelief of people who came into contact with Jesus. All of these people had every reason to trust Him, yet they failed to do so.
8. As we study this chapter, let’s keep in mind the fact that God takes unbelief very seriously, and so should we.
9. Heb. 3:12 “See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.”
10. When we allow the sin of unbelief into our hearts, it catapults us into a vicious cycle that is incredibly hard to get out of.
11. ILL – The nation of Israel… Psalm 78:22, 32 “they did not believe”
12. Alexander MacLaren, “Disobedience is the root of unbelief. Unbelief is the mother of further disobedience.”
I. The Unbelief of Jesus’ Acquaintances – Vs. 1-6
For the last time recorded in the Scriptures, Christ returns home to teach & heal (the 1st time was Luke 4:16-30). Although they were “amazed” by His powerful teaching, they once again refused to believe in Him. Why?
A. There was an issue of familiarity – vs. 1 “his hometown”
1. We all know the old saying, “Familiarity breeds contempt.” While this is certainly not always true (Ex – a married couple or a deep friendship), it is often very much true.
2. Mark Twain had some additional insight on this, he said, “Familiarity breeds contempt; & children.”
3. These people thought they knew the “real Jesus.” They had seen Him play in the streets of Nazareth as a child & grow into adulthood. Perhaps they had taken their furniture to him when it needed to be repaired.
4. The truth is that they did not know the “real Jesus!” They refused to believe in Him as their Messiah & certainly not as the Son of God.
5. There is a danger in becoming so familiar with “church stuff” that we miss out on the intimacy of a personal relationship with the living Christ!
6. The result was Vs. 6 “He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them.”
B. There was an issue of authority – vs. 2-6
1. Jesus’ return to Nazareth was not a family visit. He was here with His disciples. He left as a resident but returned as a Rabbi. This is why he was given “the pulpit” on the Sabbath. They were shocked & angered by his message!
2. Basically, the townspeople thought, “Who does He think He is?”
3. They even began to insult Jesus – vs. 3 **2 insults
a. “Isn’t this the carpenter?” This was a derogatory statement, it meant – Is Jesus not a common laborer? Is he not an uneducated low level worker – where in the world does he get the gall, to pretend to teach us the meaning of the Scriptures?
b. “Isn’t this Mary’s son?” In the Hebrew culture it was insulting to describe a man as the son of his father. This was only said when one was insinuating the illegitimacy of a person’s birth.
4. Ultimately, even though they saw head of His mighty word & witnessed His wonderful wisdom, these people refused to submit to the authority of Jesus!
5. ILL – For centuries people believed that Aristotle was right when he said that the heavier an object, the faster it would fall to earth. Aristotle was regarded as the greatest thinker of all time, and surely he would not be wrong. Anyone, of course, could have taken two objects, one heavy and one light, and dropped them from a great height to see whether or not the heavier object landed first. But no one did until nearly 2,000 years after Aristotle's death. In 1589 Galileo summoned learned professors to the base of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Then he went to the top and pushed off a ten- pound and a one-pound weight. Both landed at the same instant. The power of belief was so strong, however, that the professors denied their eyesight. They continued to say Aristotle was right.
6. This is still a very real problem today. Many may give “lip service” to Jesus, but even in the church, many refuse to truly believe in His authority to rule their lives!
7. Col. 1:18 “And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.”
8. Who do you believe in? Who is your authority?
II. The Unbelief of Jesus’ Enemies – Vs. 14-29 **Read
This passage is one of the saddest in the entire Bible. It records the events surrounding the death of John the Baptist as well as the unbelief of King Herod & his wife Herodias.
Why did they refuse to believe?
A. Herod was filled with pride – vs. 14-20
1. History has revealed that while Herod was not a King (he was a Roman governor), he insisted on being called one because of his arrogance & lust for power.
2. He even went so far as to steal & marry his own brother’s wife.
3. We can see his desire to insert himself into every situation in vs. 16. While he felt guilt about John’s death, he did nothing to change his ways.
4. We meet Herod again later in Luke 23 when Jesus is sent by Pilate to be judged. He is still so self-centered that he wants Jesus to perform a miracle for him. When Jesus refused to even speak to him, Herod responds with spite & mocking.
5. So many today are filled with pride. Often people only want God on their own terms & to only do what they want Him to do, or they don’t need him at all.
6. We must come to God humbly, on His terms, if we are to come at all.
B. Herodias was filled with hatred – vs. 19, 21-20
1. While we do not know much about this woman Herodias, we do know that she was filled with hatred & anger towards John – vs. 19.
2. Her hatred consumed her & kept her from even considering John’s message let alone the claims of Christ
3. Ann Landers, “Hate is like acid. It can damage the vessel in which it is stored as well as destroy the object on which it is poured.”
4. Hatred & bitterness can destroy any chance of believing in Christ.
III. How to Overcome Unbelief – Vs. 7-13
Sandwiched in between these 2 stories of unbelief is this ministry tour the disciples were going to take. It was a direct response to the unbelief of the people in Nazareth.
In these verses, we can see how the disciples overcame unbelief & how we can also.
A. Realize God has a special calling for your life – vs. 7 “calling the twelve”
1. This was a unique ministry calling indeed. Only these 12 men were called to go into these specific villages to carry out a specific task – to preach, cast out demons & heal the sick. There were even specific parameters to their ministry – take a staff, your sandals & one set of clothes! **This is not a model for modern day ministry!
2. However, we do need to understand that God does have just as specific a task for you to carry out in your life! He has a plan that only you can follow!
3. ILL – Rachelle Star (“Not a Fan” pg. 186-187 **read)…“Scarlet Hope’s mission is to bring the Hope and Love of Jesus Christ to women in the adult entertainment industry. By sharing the gospel message with these women through action and words we are proclaiming the name of Jesus who is their only Hope to be free from bondage has specifically called you too!!
4. “The will of God never will lead you where the grace of God cannot keep you.”
5. Phil 1:6 “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
B. Get involved in an accountability relationship – vs. 7 “two by two”
1. Jesus sent these men out 2 by 2 for
2. Gen. 2:8 “It is not good for the man to be alone .”
3. While this is an affirmation of the importance of marriage, it is also a general principal – we were not created to be alone!
4. The Bible is filled with examples of vital relationships among the people of God.
a. Moses & Aaron.
b. David & Jonathan.
c. Paul & Barnabus, Silas, Timothy & Titus.
d. Peter & Mark.
e. Jesus had the 12 & an even closer relationship with Peter, James & John.
5. All of these people had accountability relationships with other believers. They recognized the need for each other. They did not try to go it alone. Even Jesus, who was fully God & fully man, recognized the importance of these relationships.
6. Prov. 27:17 “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”
C. Expect opposition & rejection – vs. 8-11
1. When Jesus sent them out, He told them they should expect rejection just as He had faced in the Decapolis (5:17) & in Nazareth (6:3).
2. We must realize that not everyone we meet will agree with us or even tolerate us. Some in fact, will even be antagonistic toward Christians!
3. Phil. 3:18 “For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.”
4. 2 Tim. 3:12 “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,”
5. ILL – When the emperor Valens threatened Eusebius with confiscation of all his goods, torture, banishment, or even death, the courageous Christian replied, “He needs not fear confiscation, who has nothing to lose; nor banishment, to whom heaven is his country; nor torments, when his body can be destroyed at one blow; nor death, which is the only way to set him at liberty from sin & sorrow.”
D. Live out your faith publicly – vs. 12-13
1. The men went out and did what Jesus told them to do. It is remarkable that a band of ordinary men could go out in this way to represent Christ.
2. How? God's calling always includes His power to accomplish His plan.
3. Phil. 2:13 “for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.”
4. 2 Cor. 3:5 (NCV) “We are not saying that we can do this work ourselves. It is God who makes us able to do all that we do.”
Conc. –
1. The Truth Project, “Do you really believe that what you believe is really real?”
2. Someone said, “We only truly believe that which motivates us to action.”
3. When you believe something is real, you act on that “reality”, regardless of whether it is God’s truth, or a lie.
4. What do you truly believe?
